Legends of the Dragonrealm: Shade by Richard A. Knaak Page A

were binding, but Ravos was under no misapprehension that the necromancers wouldn’t seek to betray him if they thought it better suited their goals. He knew that they assumed the same of him. It was a fair enough arrangement in his eyes.
    It was fair enough, because he already knew just how and when he would betray them.
    THE SKELETAL COPSE appeared empty, but Kadaria still remained, even if now hidden from mortal eyes. She observed Ravos’s vanishing into the mists and chuckled.
    Another shadow separated from the trees, a shadow that took on a vague shape akin to hers, only more masculine. It did not coalesce as much as Kadaria, although she had no difficulty identifying which of her compatriots it was.
    The fool of a lizard is not to be trusted to do his task . . .
    He will do as much as he feels he needs to in order to achieve his goal, Zorane, she replied, her lips unmoving. Then he will plot his betrayal. That is all we require of him.
    Zorane radiated satisfaction. It will all come together. Our dear cousin will pay for his transgressions against us . . .
    Kadaria faded, becoming less substantial than even Zorane. The two of them had other matters to which to attend to ensure their success.The others would be waiting for word. And more important, through him, we shall reshape the world to our own design . . .
    The necromancers departed.
    The army marched on.
    CHILL WINDS ROARED through the front chamber of the caverns, but the two male dragons paid no mind. They lay with their snouts facing the entrance and their fiery eyes wary slits observing all before them. Even among their kind, they had the semblance of twins and, indeed, they had been born in the same clutch. The pair were even of like minds, which made them all the more terrifying and powerful guardians to this mountainous abode.
    In the gleam of torches set in the walls to their sides, their otherwise dusky green scales glittered with the touch of gold. The tail of the leviathan to the right shifted back and forth slightly, but otherwise the only movement from either was their slow but constant breathing.
    Both dragons abruptly raised their heads, their eyes wide, alert, and fearsome. Two toothy mouths gaped open.
    Flames shot forth from the pair, bathing the area before them with such heat that the ground there glazed.
    As one, the dragons ceased their assault. Wisps of smoke continued to rise from the scorched area, but the reason for their sudden fury remained unseen.
    “Faras. Ssgayn,” came a feminine voice echoing throughout the chamber. “You know me.”
    For once, the dragons did not act as if a single creature. The one on the left looked hesitant, while the other hissed warily.
    Valea materialized in the center of the burned area. The heat would have still been enough to take her breath if not for her magic. She confronted the two titans without fear, even smiling.
    “Lady Valea,” rumbled the one on the left.
    “Ssgayn. I’ve missed both of you.”
    The other dragon still eyed her mistrustfully. “You should not be here, Lady Valea! There hasss been no word of your coming!”
    “Doesss it matter?” argued the first dragon. “She isss Lady Valea! He would wish to sssee her!”
    Ssgayn’s companion snapped at him, although clearly not with any true intent of harm. “We mussst let no one pass!”
    “Faras . . .” Valea approached the reluctant beast. “Ask him. Ask if I may have an audience. A brief one.”
    “Thisss isss not right.”
    “She isss Lady Valea!” Ssgayn said again. “He will want to know she wasss here . . .”
    The two argued for a moment more, then Faras finally growled, “Very well.”
    Ssgayn shut his eyes. Faras resumed his untrusting observation of the human.
    Despite her air of assurance, Valea was not certain that she would be allowed to pass. Still, she had dared seek out the pair’s lord more directly, for this place had defenses far more devious than two dragons and certainly far less